#10 Temple of the Dog (1990-1992)
Quite possibly the worst band name in history, but also a band that actually contained a lot of potential talent. This was a band that fused together members who would eventually separate and form the much more famous 'Soundgarden' and 'Pearl Jam', who you can probably expect to feature later on. The combination of future 'Soundgarden' frontman Chris Cornell and 'Pearl Jam' founder Eddie Vedder is enough to give any grunge fan a massive erection, as for the first time there was what we would call today a 'grunge supergroup'. The immensely talented Chris Cornell only features on backing vocals which gives you some sort of indication of the talent we're dealing with here.
Despite all this the band only ever released the one album, which also happened to be self titled, making that possibly the worst album name of all time. The one album idea was always the plan considering that the band originally formed in tribute to the late Andrew Wood, who was a huge influence of the grunge genre before overdosing, which really is a rarity in the rock community dominated by loose cannons. However even though the band only ever released the single album, they still showed the ability to produce some quality material, and even though the idea was to commemorate a dead friend, the band still managed to produce some of the most cheerful songs in the grunge scene. For a band that only lasted two years they leave behind an extraordinary legacy.
#9 Mudhoney (1988-)
'Mudhoney' are a band that are somehow still going, producing solid performance after solid performance even after all these years. To grunge fans 'Mudhoney' are a talented band with many anthems to drool over, but to the majority of people this is a group lost into obscurity. In reality the band were very influential in the grunge scene, arguably being one of the first users of that intense and dirty sound that would end up becoming grunge in its raw and simple form. Their first EP in particular, the terribly named 'Superfuzz Bigmuff', has actually become one of grunge's most notable releases, and even got the band a decent record deal. Their ten studio albums since have been a welcome addition to the genre, but their shyness towards mainstream success means that this proper grunge band were never destined for greatness. 'Mudhoney' made similar bands like 'Nirvana' look like Virgin Cola in comparison, and as underground followings go this lot were pretty much king of the hill.
#8 Stone Temple Pilots (1989-2002)
The 'Stone Temple Pilots' were actually a band that originated from San Diego, so for them to try and copy that iconic Seattle based sound of grunge was something that nobody was going to like. It was even more unlikely to work when their original name was going to be 'Shirley Temple's Pussy', but thankfully this band decided to work with a different acronym and actually achieved moderate success in doing so. Amazingly the 'Stone Temple Pilots' worked quite nicely together, and although they eventually moved away from infiltrating Seattle based sound, they were at one point up there with the most important of players in the grunge game. Their imitation was originally criticised, especially on their debut album 'Core', which really isn't a bad record; but try telling that to die hard grunge fanatics. The critics soon shut up when they heard the album 'Purple' that subsequently took the band to commercial success, bringing with it a savagery to grunge that even the boys from Seattle hadn't managed yet.
Because the 'Stone Temple Pilots' weren't from Seattle they could pretty much do whatever they wanted with a genre that didn't include them, and that's a good thing, as over the years this band have become one of the more experimental on this list, never shying away from fusing different genres. They understood that grunge needed to evolve as a sound, and as such they sounded different, unique. These outcasts ended up as one of the most stereotypical grunge bands imaginable, proving the genre could travel states. Vocalist Scott Weiland tragically died the week before writing this, which isn't surprising considering his rock and roll lifestyle, but I thought this would be a timely tribute to a man who you could believe had seen the deranged shit he drones on about. The smack addiction that literally ended this man's life is at the fore of many songs written by him, suiting that monotone depression that is the grunge format. The man may not have been the most iconic figure on this list, but both him and the band are certainly worthy of significant praise for their contributions.
#7 Jane's Addiction (1985-1991)
Before you moan at me I'm fully aware that this band are not technically classified as grunge, as they're actually just general alternative rockers, but as an early 90's band these guys were often lumped into the grunge style and may have also had a big influence on the hardcore grunge bands in the business. Their work clearly has grunge elements hidden within, and being as 'Jane's Addiction' were one of the first alternative bands to find big success I don't think you can argue that they didn't pave the way for the grunge explosion of the early 90's. Vocalist Perry Farrel himself dubbed their sound as part of the 'alternative nation', and that's essentially what grunge became in the end. As for the band, well they prefer screeching their lyrics into the ears of listeners rather than groaning, and I prefer the noises made by a band that sound like they want to be taking acid rather than blowing their brains out. The love of hair metal equals charisma, and that's something you don't get with many stereotypical grunge bands that bow to convention. 'Jane's Addiction' are now most famous for masterminding the hugely successful Lollapalooza gig, so even if you don't recognise them as a grunge band you can thank them for that.
#6 The Smashing Pumpkins (1988-2000)
Oh I'm sorry, I know I've broken the rules again by including a band that aren't technically grunge, and yes I know they've turned their back on that rock heritage lately, but I don't fucking care. I like 'The Smashing Pumpkins', and their music is often compared to grunge artists, so if your insufferable opinion can't handle that then please feel free to make your own list. '1979' and 'Today' are classics in the alternative rock genre, and as for the 'Mellon Collie' album, well that brilliant album with an emphasis on grunge elements propelled the bad to stardom. Just because this group don't bow down to grunge conventions doesn't mean you should instantly discount them from having any influence on any Seattle sounds.
Grunge music doesn't have to sound like angry hipster bullshit, and 'The Smashing Pumpkins' proved that you could actually transform alternative rock into something that actually sounds pleasant to listen to. You don't have to hate yourself to enjoy this style of music, as removing punky elements make everything far less savage, far less pretentious than endlessly wailing on about life's problems. That's not to say 'The Smashing Pumpkins' don't incorporate hard rock into their work, far from it in fact, and the guitar centered work this band have produced is by far their best, unfortunately no longer dominating their recent albums. 'The Pumpkins' are an underrated band if truth be told, and one that manage to sound completely unique in a samey genre.
#5 Soundgarden (1984-1997)
A band famed for putting the punk into grunge. 'Soundgarden' were never shy about wailing out a moody number for their self pitying fans, but that feeling of a band that just made it out of a high school group was an instantly relatable feature that made grunge so relatable to the miserable masses. 'Soundgarden' are often said to be the grandfathers of the grunge scene, and although that's mainly due to them being the first to get a major record deal, it also has something to do with their sound that has now become atypical of the grunge format. Aside from being pioneers of the genre, they're also a technically sound band that like to combine classic hard rock with some heavy metal, which as a combination is one that excites me greatly.
'Soundgarden' were a band that could actually play their instruments well. I know that was once a common thing in rock music, but as the genre became more commercial it unfortunately became a thing to praise. The four gifted individuals played off of each other nicely, and the result was a mix of powerful vocals and powerful riffs that expanded on the classic formula of hard rock. 'Soundgarden' were a little different however, and could go from brutal savagery in songs such as 'Hands All Over', to drug inspired nonsense in songs such as 'Black Hole Sun'. The album 'Superunknown' is where their best work can be found, and as debut albums go it can easily sum up the sound of this band in a nutshell.
#4 Pixies (1986-1993)
A great band that nobody has ever heard of. The sound that 'Pixies' created would later become the core of what grunge was about, but unfortunately for these indie rockers they peaked too soon and instead had to inspire a whole genre instead of reap the commercial success. Listen to their work and you will find a cocktail of punk, alternative rock and metal melded together in a big shouty mess. In truth 'Pixies' were a band way ahead of their time, and it seems barely believable that they were making such characteristically 90's records in the late 80's.
The legacy of 'Pixies' is quite probably the largest on this list, even inspiring some of the great albums that we've still got coming. In terms of grunge and alternative rock 'Pixies' can pretty much claim they created the successful format with their catchy riffs complimenting an overriding dark tone that encapsulates the angst that the grunge era would focus on. As a concept they sounded a bit like a bodge job of many genres that shouldn't really work together, but the reality was that this brash mixture just sounded great. Their intense and unorthodox songs may sound like just another loud racket in retrospect, but the explosions of grunge came from the very explosions that 'Pixies' loved to incorporate into their songs.
#3 Alice in Chains (1987-2002)
As a creative force in grunge, it's hard to argue that the kings weren't 'Alice in Chains'. Jerry Cantrell was a huge part of this success with his legendary voice, but for me his unique chemistry with fellow frontman and massive drug addict Layne Staley is the most impressive part of this band. Staley may have passed away in 2002, but in that time this powerful duo created the most striking band on this list. Only their harmonies could wash away the overwhelming emphasis on heavy metal that 'Alice in Chains' became known for, instantly becoming a fan favorite for those heavy metal extremists that would need a lecture on what a vagina looks like. I don't care about being labelled into that category though as I just love listening to unconventional bands, and as a metal based band 'Alice in Chains' became a noticeable diversion from the samey grunge format.
However once you get passed the powerful metal based riffs you get to a very technical band that used this simplistic core to diverge into powerful themes and styles that many grunge performers would find too complex to accurately portray. Their music is dark, deranged, and has the instant ability to send shivers down your spine. The harmonies are so powerful that there absurdity becomes a thing of beauty within itself. Bands such as 'Nirvana' may have been the flagbearers for grunge, but it was 'Alice in Chains' that bought the intensity. Their songs are filled with expletive filled rants and just a general hatred towards anything, which is a similar style to that which grunge thrived off of. The band may have faded into obscurity over time, or at least are nowhere near as popular, but for those that truly appreciate what grunge music had to offer the industry then you'll know that these guys kicked some serious ass.
#2 Pearl Jam (1990-)
'Pearl Jam' are a band that have risen like a phoenix out of the ashes over the years. Despite forming over the failure of other ventures and leading a career that has seen them make countless suicidal business solutions, they're still performing after all these years. Their debut album 'Ten' is their masterpiece. Not only is it one of the greatest debut albums of all time, but it's also one of the greatest albums in general. To this day 'Ten' still holds those strong messages that it always did, and songs such as 'Jeremy' can send shivers down your spine no matter how many times you play it. Like most of 'Pearl Jam's' work, 'Jeremy' contains poignant and powerful lyrics that mix into the dark themes perfectly. 'Pearl Jam' weren't a commercial band that sang about smelling like teenage deodorant; they were a band that sung about a kid blowing his brains out in front of the class, accompanied by Eddie Vedder on vocals, which is a prospect that allows deep growls to become powerful vocals. He's not the same as conventional singers like 'Beyonce' who thinks she's a huge activist for not buying an alligator handbag, rather he's a man that will happily wage a war over a topic he feels strongly about, whether that be animal cruelty or corporations.
'Pearl Jam's' work is essentially a scathing view of the world filled with intense numbers of pure angst filled grunge. Critics and performers such as Kurt Cobain may have whined that this is sellout grunge, but fuck them. 'Pearl Jam' are a different sound to 'Nirvana', and in many technical aspects they're far superior to what others in the genre ever were. 'Pearl Jam' are a pure rock band that don't produce pointless music videos or rely on interviews and PR to get into the public eye. You get the sense that this band don't care about commercial fame, only being in the business to make quality music; and this dedication and passion can be easily heard throughout their work. Unlike many grunge acts 'Pearl Jam' haven't subsided over the years, and still to this day keep producing material with a lasting impact. This band weren't a quick fad, and were one of the few in the grunge business that could produce genuine quality on a regular basis. If the grunge scene was the human body then 'Pearl Jam' would be the soul, and just like a soul the band have lived past their original lifecycle.
#1 Nirvana (1987-1994)
You could probably see this one coming, but then you can't really argue that 'Nirvana' weren't everything in the grunge scene during the early 90's. The reason this list exists and the reason why you're bothering to read it is because 'Nirvana' were the band to break the mold, and although they might not be the most revolutionary on this list, they are certainly the most influential; maybe even the most influential rock band of all time. They were proof that any shit band borne from a garage could work, even converting people who would traditionally hate depressing rock music in the process. Being a fan of 'Nirvana' is now something of a badge of honor, showing that you appreciate good music. Kurt Cobain was the right man to come along at the right time, and so not surprisingly the album 'Nevermind' was a huge success. That album alone is a masterpiece, one of the greatest releases of all time, managing to kill hair metal and any form of classic rock in the process. 'Nirvana' made the glitzy world of showbiz obsolete for a short while, carrying a legacy that any other alternative rock band could only dream of.
Technically the band may have had a few rough edges. The lyrics for example to many of their songs were just cut and stick jobs that had very little meaning, although you try telling that to the generation that have been inspired by Cobain's songwriting and you soon find out how little that actually matters. At one point the name 'Nirvana' would be symbolic to any garage band in the early 90's, but now their iconic name is being mocked by idiots who want to seem retro and indie to cover up their shallow and irritating personalities. It's a shame, as for a band that lasted only a couple of years it's quite unbelievable that they managed to define a whole genre, and arguably a whole generation as well. 'Nirvana' aren't just the greatest grunge band of all time; they monopolised the genre, giving a voice to social outcasts everywhere. As for me, well I've always found the name 'Nirvana' ironic. The term comes from the idea of a peaceful state of mind, and not only are Cobain's lyrics anything but peaceful, but in the end his mind ended up all over the floor.
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